The widespread job insecurity makes Bill Belichick’s 13 years with the Patriots seem even more impressive. If the Eagles fire Reid, Belichick will become the active coach with the longest tenure, and he clearly has a chance to win his fourth Super Bowl. The Patriots (8-3) have won five straight and can clinch a playoff spot Sunday by beating the Miami Dolphins.

“There’s no coach I’d ever want to play for than him,” Patrios coach Tom Brady said after the Patriots embarrassed the Jets, 49-19 on Thanksgiving. “He’s tough, he’s disciplined, and that’s what we need. He expects us to play at a high level every week. He has high expectations in practice every day. That’s what you look for in a coach—someone that gets the best out of all the players that he coaches.”

I believe the Patriots are the best team in the AFC, even though the Texans (10-1) and Ravens (9-2) have better records and the Broncos (8-3) are dangerous. New England’s passing attack presents serious matchup problems for any opponent. And for the first time in years, the Patriots’ running game—Stevan Ridley could reach 1,000 rushing yards this week—must be taken seriously.

The implosion of the Eagles and demise of Reid underscore how difficult it is for any NFL coach to sustain success. Reid has been to five conference championship games and has made the playoffs nine times in 13 years. But the Eagles look like they have hit the mute button on Reid. They have lost seven straight and haven’t responded to Reid like they once did, although he insisted Monday that his team had not quit.

“They’ve shown up for meetings,” Reid said. “They don’t come late. They do all the right things. We’re just not getting it done right now.”

However, Belichick is still getting it done. He is blessed to have a quarterback like Tom Brady, who at age 35 looks as good as ever. However, the Patriots are also blessed to have Belichick. Brady has not lost his fastball. But neither has Belichick.

The Packers have to protect Rodgers better

Watching Aaron Rodgers get pummeled by the New York Giants on Sunday night was disconcerting for coach Mike McCarthy. The Giants sacked Rodgers five times en route to a 38-10 rout. The Green Bay Packers’ protection issues were reminiscent of September, when the Seahawks sacked Rodgers eight times in one half. Only the Arizona Cardinals have allowed more sacks (46) than the Packers (37).

Even a quarterback as good as Rodgers can’t be effective under that kind of pressure. The season-ending hip injury to right tackle Bryan Bulaga was a major blow, raising concern about the Packers’ ability to protect Rodgers against elite pass-rushing teams.

It’s revealing that the Packers have lost to both the San Francisco 49ers and Giants. Should Green Bay make the playoffs and face either of those teams, it’s hard to like their chances unless they do a better job of keeping Rodgers off the ground.

Teams that need a quarterback missed the boat

The Chiefs, Cardinals and any other teams with serious quarterback issues won’t find easy answers.

Most scouts rate USC’s Matt Barkley and West Virginia’s Geno Smith as the top two quarterbacks in next year’s draft. However, nobody is comparing either QB to Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III.

This year’s rookie quarterback class was special, with five starting from Week 1 on. Next year’s class doesn’t look nearly as deep. And that’s bad news for any team dissatisfied with its starting quarterback.

The losers in the Asomugha sweepstakes look like the winners

Nnamdi Asomugha hasn’t been nearly the cornerback for the Eagles that he was for the Oakland Raiders. Remember how disappointed the Jets and Cowboys were when Asomugha jilted them and took the Eagles’ five-year, $60 million offer as a free agent in 2011?

Too bad for the Eagles that contract didn’t come with a money-back guarantee. It’s very possible this could be Asomugha’s last season in Philadelphia, and it if is, his tenure there will have been a huge disappointment. Maybe it would have worked out better for Asomugha with the Jets, playing opposite Darrelle Revis. But while Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum has plenty to keep him awake at night, losing out on Asomugha isn’t one of them.

The Seahawks are playing with Adderall concerns hanging over them

There are many unknowns about the recent trend of players testing positive for Adderall. We don’t know how many players are taking it legitimately for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder but are failing to go through the proper league protocol. We don’t know many players are claiming to test positive for Adderall as an excuse for testing positive for something else.

We also don’t know the exact fate of Seattle Seahawks cornerbacks Brandon Browner and Richard Sherman, who have appealed their four-game suspensions. Coach Pete Carroll said he expects Browner and Sherman to play Sunday against the Chicago Bears. Browner’s agent has said his client has no idea how an illegal substance could have entered his system while Sherman has posted on Twitter: “This…issue will be resolved soon and the truth will come out…Not worried.”

But the Seahawks have to be worried. If they lose their two starting corners down the stretch, their playoff hopes are more likely to go down the tubes.

Moreno could be an X-factor for the Broncos

After spending most of the season on the inactive list, Moreno has resurfaced in a huge way. He contributed 85 yards rushing and 25 yards receiving during the Denver Broncos’ 17-9 victory over the Chiefs on Sunday. It was the first time Moreno had been active since Week 2. But with Willis McGahee out for the remainder of the regular season, the Broncos needed somebody to step up and Moreno did—big-time.

As a former first-round draft choice, Moreno has the talent. Now after being labeled a first-round bust, Moreno may also have more desire. His resurgence, if it continues, can’t come at a better time for the Broncos.

It will be an important weekend in the Baltimore-Washington area

On Sunday, I’ll be in Baltimore to see if Ben Roethlisberger can play and whether the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5) can stop their skid by beating the Ravens (9-2), who are riding high. Monday, I’ll drive a little farther down I-95 to see the Giants (7-4) at the Washington Redskins on Monday night.

Not long ago, the Steelers were rolling at 6-3 and the Redskins were down in the dumps at 3-6. Now Griffin has the Redskins (5-6) thinking playoffs while the Steelers have been unable to win without Big Ben.

Watching two compelling games within 48 hours will make dealing with the traffic worth it. Catch you next week for Cliff’s Edge.